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Current Campaigns

Accessibility of lifts

In relation to the accessibility of lifts, lack of awareness regarding the importance of measures that allow people with a visual impairment to use lifts autonomously is a big problem. While it is broadly understood and accepted that certain specific requirements such as access without steps, a minimum door width or enough space inside the lift car are necessary requirements, it is not yet widely accepted that, for example, the usability of control devices is just as necessary to ensure the accessibility of the whole lift. Therefore, people with visual impairment often experience serious difficulties in using lifts.

Pay-Able and accessible payment terminals

Technology plays an ever-increasing role in our modern society and often offers many advantages. However, there are also downsides. Payment terminals, such as the devices used in shops and restaurants when paying by card or the built-in payment devices in ticketing machines used for public transport, are often inaccessible to millions of disabled and elderly consumers in Europe.

The problem can be solved. Payment terminals could for example be equipped with audio output, a screen with more contrast and larger fonts and fixed places for the keys. Innovative ways of interacting with a payment terminal, for example through Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC), could be part of the solution.

Silent Cars

The growing number of electric vehicle (EV) and electric-hybrid vehicles (EHV) is a fundamental concern to blind and partially sighted people. As much as we appreciate the environmental benefits and the noise reduction of our daily road traffic, the introduction of these vehicles has created potential life and independence threatening hazards for blind, partially sighted and other vulnerable pedestrians.

The European Accessibility Act

Former legislation has mainly focused on a specific single sector like the mandate for public authorities to make their websites accessible, or directives to encourage public service providers to procure accessible products to render accessible services etc.

In December 2015 the European commission launched a legislative proposal for a directive for a wide reaching “European accessibility act (EAA), which addresses accessibility as an overarching requirement in various sectors and establishes mandatory accessibility functional requirements

The Marrakesh Treaty

Currently, copyright law is a national jurisdiction which has the effect of preventing blind organizations from sharing books with neighboring countries, thus causing considerable unnecessary duplication of production of books in accessible formats. The treaty will considerably increase the availability of accessible books all over the world and support the mitigation of the predominant book famine. Currently only 5% of all published books in the developed countries and less than 1% in the developing countries are ever produced in accessible formats - such as braille, large print and audio – that visually impaired people and print disabled people need for equal reading enjoyment.